“Uh,” Red Moon agreed. “We kill ever’body.”
“Not if they throw down their guns and hold up their hands,” Hawkins explained.
Running Cougar and Red Moon glanced at each other with shrugs.
They didn’t have long to wait before the night’s gloom had lessened to the point that allowed them to see clearly. Hawkins pulled his pistol and nodded to his two scout companions. “Keep close to the buildings and use all the cover you can. This isn’t going to be easy.”
The captain moved forward with the two Indians immediately behind him. When they reached the town limits, they moved to the west side, staying off the street and on the boardwalk. A man stepped from a building across the street. He carried a Winchester carbine and walked sleepily toward the location of the tower and its dead occupant. He was on his way to relieve the sentry, and was not looking forward to spending long hours gazing out into the open countryside.
Hawkins’ first bullet hit him in the hip with such force it knocked him down. The second round, along with one each from Running Cougar and Red Moon, rolled him over twice as he died.
Another outlaw stupidly ran outside to see what was going on. A salvo from the three men of the Kiowa-Comanche Detachment tumbled him to the boardwalk across the street.
Up on the north end of town, Ludlow Dooley, Sergeant Eagle Heart, Tall Bear and Swift Horse moved into action. Ludlow and Eagle Heart took the west side and the other two the east as the small team moved into the interior of Bitterwaters, Texas.
Although Bill Stucker and his gang lacked military discipline and precision, they were experienced and fearless. The sudden outburst of shooting had abruptly awakened them, and they made an instantaneous response to the uproar. Bill Stucker quickly organized them to react against the attack coming at them from two sides.
In moments, the battle was joined with no quarter to be given or asked.
Ludlow and Eagle Heart quickly found themselves in a dangerous situation. A trio of gunmen, working together, had left the saloon to situate themselves in the opening between two nearby buildings. They took cover behind stacked barrels and crates, waiting for the right moment to cut loose with a volley of bullets aimed directly at the duo from the scout detachment. As soon as they fired, a plate glass window behind the lieutenant and sergeant shattered and shards of glass flew inward into the store.
The two army men returned fire with rapid shots from their pistols as the young lieutenant led the way to safety inside the building. As he dashed through the door, Ludlow was confronted by the owner who raised a shotgun to fire a load of buckshot into his skinny chest.
The lieutenant stuck his pistol into the man’s face and yanked the trigger. The Colt bucked and fired, the bullet striking true. The impact of the .45 slug into the man’s skull blew his nose off to one side as the facial features folded inward.
Eagle Heart noted the kill and, satisfied that source of danger was done with, whirled to keep up the return fire on the bushwhackers across the street. Ludlow Dooley, after a glance of horrified fascination at the mutilated features of his victim, joined the scout. Together they laid down a fusillade that cut into the barrels and crates. Two of the gunmen pitched forward in death, knocking down the barricade to reveal the corpse of the third man.
Hawkins, Running Cougar and Red Moon continued their advance, alternately covering each other and rushing forward in small spurts. They experienced quick, deadly exchanges with single and two-man teams of gunmen. More windows shattered and the fronts of buildings shook from a multitude of bullet strikes that caused hunks of splintered wood to whirl through the air.
Back on the north end, with the ambush shot apart by Ludlow and Eagle Heart, Tall Bear and Swift Horse surged forward in the battle lust of their race as they fearlessly sought out targets of opportunity in the hiding places available to the bandits.
Ludlow and Eagle Heart ran out in the street to follow them as closely as possible. This led to an impromptu attack on a couple of men behind a water trough. Bullet-sprayed water showered the outlaw pair from the combined salvos of the four members of the scout detachment. The bandits realized their only hope was to get into the building to their direct rear. But at the exact moment they jumped up to run, the army men once more opened fire on them. Their bodies were strewn across the boardwalk behind the trough.
Another group of outlaws made an attempt to gain an advantageous position in the tower by making a desperate dash toward the ladder. If they could reach the roof, they would have a full view of the street from one end of town to the other.
It was Red Moon who first noticed the bold try, and he called Hawkins and Running Cougar’s attention to the situation. They began firing as the first of four men had reached the roof. He pitched forward onto the building, rolled twice and fell off to the ground. The second and third outlaws were riddled as they struggled upward. The top man slipped between the rungs and hung there as his partner went straight back into a graceful headfirst drive to the dirt.
The last outlaw made a desperate bid to run out of harm’s way to the other side of the building, but the combined fire of the captain and the two scouts sent a combined salvo that shook and staggered him in the midst of his frantic strides toward safety. He fell to his knees, then additional shots kicked him over to one side. Ludlow recognized the dead man as the bartender who had served him the rye whiskey.
The middle of town in front of the saloon was first reached by Tall Bear and Swift Horse. When Ludlow and Eagle Heart arrived on the scene, the lieutenant quickly sent the other two scouts to cover the rear of the building. The pair found a protected spot where they could keep the back door under complete and unobstructed surveillance.
Hawkins arrived on the scene a minute later with Running Cougar and Red Moon on his heels. He motioned the rest of the detachment to follow him into the protection of the barber shop across the street.
Hawkins looked around. “Did we lose Tall Bear and Swift Horse?”
“No, sir,” Ludlow replied. “I sent them around to the rear of the saloon. I remembered there was only a single egress in the back.”
“Egress!” Hawkins bellowed. “What the hell is an egress?”
“An exit, sir. A door.”
“Christ! I wish you’d speak English at time like this, Mr. Dooley. An egress for God’s sake!”
“Sorry, sir.”
“Never mind,” Hawkins said. “Let’s assess the situation. We’ve made our way to the center of town from both ends. And did a good job too. Now we’ve got the remainder of the gang holed up in that saloon. With the egress in the back covered, correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I figure we’re just about at even odds now,” Hawkins said. “Maybe even a little better. So we’ve got a couple of choices. Sit here and starve them out or charge in there and take whatever luck hands out to us.”
“There is food in there, sir. It would take a long time before anybody inside starved.”
“Then I have a third idea,” Hawkins said. “We’ll burn the son of a bitches out.”
‘‘Sir!” Ludlow exclaimed. “There are three women who live in that building.”
“Did you get to ‘know’ all three of ’em, Mr. Ludlow?”
“Of course not, sir. I didn’t have time.”
Captain Hawkins grinned and winked at his lieutenant. He went to the door of the barber shop, and took a deep breath, hollering as loud as he could. “Bill Stucker! Bill Stucker! This is Mack Hawkins!”
Moments later voice sounded from the interior of the saloon. “All right, Hawkins! What do you have to say?”
“I know there’s three women in there!” Hawkins yelled back. “Let ’em loose! There’s not any reason to get ’em killed.”
“You go to hell, Hawkins!”
“Are you gonna hide behind women’s skirts, Stucker?”
The outlaw made no reply, and several long moments passed as Hawkins began considering alternatives that would not be risky for his
detachment. His thought were suddenly interrupted with another yell from the saloon.
“We’re coming out, Hawkins!” came Stucker’s voice. “And we’re going to our horses at the livery stable! We got the women with us! One wrong move on your part and they die! Understand? They die!”
Hawkins was enraged. “You’ve lost, Stucker! Putting those women in the line of fire won’t help you a godamn bit.”
Stucker was stubborn. “I told you what I was gonna do, Hawkins!”
Five full minutes passed, then the three women could be seen coming out of the saloon. From the way they stood, it was obvious their hands were bound behind their backs. At that point both Hawkins and Ludlow noticed rope hobbles had also been placed around the females’ ankles to keep them from running. Using them as shields, Bill Stucker and his three surviving men came out on the boardwalk. The bandit leader had a pair of saddlebags over his shoulder.
“Well,” Hawkins remarked. “I reckon that answers my question about that yellow belly hiding behind women’s skirts.” He looked over at Ludlow. “Which one of ’em was your gal?”
“The one in the middle, sir. Her name is Sally.”
Hawkins studied the whore for a moment. “Well, at least she’s a little better looking than the others.”
Ludlow wanted to change the subject. “Maybe we could get Tall Bear and Swift horse to come around the sides of the saloon.”
“It’d take too long and if they fired at the outlaws from the rear, they’d hit the women,” Hawkins said. “Well, it’s up to me. I got to take the responsibility.”
He went to the small window in the corner of the shop. He sighted his carbine with his elbows braced on the sill, at the group of people moving slowly down the street.
“Sir!” Ludlow said. “You’ll hit the women.”
“Shut up! I’m concentrating.” Hawkins aimed for a few more seconds, then slowly pulled the trigger.
One of the gunmen was kicked backward and collapsed to the ground. At that point the frightened women screamed. One tried to run off but was tripped up by the hobbles, making her fall. Sally pushed against her other friend, causing them both to lose their balance as well.
“Yeah,” Hawkins said, chambering another round. “I thought that’d put some life into them women.”
Ludlow saw an opportunity and quickly fired on the now exposed outlaws. He hit one man, driving him sideways to trip over the boardwalk before toppling to the planking. Bill Stucker and the other survivors quickly threw down their weapons and held up their hands.
“By God!” Hawkins said with a grin. “I’d say we won this battle.”
“Good for us, sir!” Ludlow exclaimed.
The entire detachment approached the outlaws. Bill Stucker, Elmer Wright and Dick Eastman glared at the army men. Although defiant, the outlaws showed they accepted defeat.
Hawkins reached over and took the saddlebags off Stucker’s shoulder. “I take it this is the stolen payroll.”
Stucker made no reply.
Hawkins grinned. “I can tell by the look on your face that is exactly what it is.”
Sally struggled to her feet and stood up in time to see Hawkins, Ludlow and the two Indians approaching. Tears of relief streamed down her face. “Thank you, Dangerous Dooley. You saved our lives.”
Hawkins chuckled, casting a glance at his lieutenant. “You’ve made quite a reputation with that name, haven’t you?”
“Well, sir, I was working undercover by your orders.”
“Well done, Dangerous Dooley!”
A thought occurred to Ludlow. “Sir, what are we going to do with the women?”
Hawkins shrugged. “They can stay here. I’m sure there’s plenty of food in the saloon. It won’t be long before another bunch of outlaws move in here. The ladies will take up where they left off.”
“That’s not much of a life, sir.”
“They didn’t have a lot going for them before we came on the scene.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
The arrival of the U.S. Scouts’ Kiowa-Comanche Detachment at Fort Sill with three bound prisoners in tow caused a hell of a ruckus. Drill, fatigue details, office work and all other activities came to a complete halt as everyone rushed to see the strange sight of Captain Mack Hawkins and Lieutenant Ludlow Dooley at the head of the small column. The lieutenant had the saddlebags with the stolen payrolls slung across the front of his saddle.
Hawkins led his detachment directly over to the post guardhouse. “I’ll be back directly,” he said as he dismounted. He went into the building to the desk of the sergeant of the guard.
The noncommissioned officer stood up. “Yes, sir?”
“I have three Fed’ral prisoners to turn in to you, Sergeant,” Hawkins said.
“All right, sir,” the sergeant said. “We’ve got room for ’em.”
“I’ll have the bastards brought in.”
The sergeant grinned. “It seems you got a personal dislike for them fellers, sir.”
“That I do,” Hawkins said, remembering how Stucker used the three women for hostages. He went back outside. “All right, Sergeant Eagle Heart. Get the prisoners.”
Eagle Heart ordered Red Moon, Tall Bear and Swift Horse to each grab a captive and pull them off their horses. The task was done quickly and roughly, with the three scouts pushing the bound prisoners toward the door.
Hawkins stood by as Bill Stucker, Elmer Wright and Dick Eastman were put in a cell under the supervision of the sergeant of the guard. The scouts undid the cuffs, and the bandits rubbed the circulation back in their hands as the door was closed. Hawkins idly glanced at the prisoners in the next cell and was surprised to see the Indian agent Elmer Jordon occupying it.
Jordon gave the captain a surly look. “I see you been busy, Hawkins.”
“Yeah. And I see that you finally got caught pulling one crooked deal too many. What were you peddling this time, Jordon?”
“I ain’t in any mood to talk to you.”
“Well, you must be a real dumb son of a bitch to think you could keep getting away with selling government property that was supposed to be given to the Indians.”
“That godamn Colin Hamm ratted me out when he got caught up in Guthrie by the U.S. marshals,” Jordon said. “If it hadn’t been that stupid son of a bitch I’d still be in the clear.”
Hawkins laughed. “If you take a look in the next cell, you’ll see your old pal Bill Stucker. Maybe him and you’ll be in the same Fed’ral penitentiary after your trials.”
Jordon glanced at the prisoners, recognizing his old colleague. “Hey, Stucker.”
Stucker, surprised, turned around. “Hey, Jordon.”
Hawkins led the scouts back outside where Ludlow, Sergeant Eagle Heart and Corporal Running Cougar waited. Ludlow asked, “What’s next, sir?”
“I have to get over to headquarters and make my report, Mr. Dooley. I want you to be present because I’m gonna have you write it up later for the necessary endorsements. You can use that West Point education of yours to make it sound real fancy. And bring that money with you.”
Hawkins looked at Sergeant Eagle Heart. “Take the detachment back to our bivouac at the agency, Sergeant. And dismiss them.”
Eagle Heart saluted, and headed out for Fort Lone Wolf. The other scouts followed wordlessly. The Indians adapted to military custom readily enough, but sometimes it seemed to them there was a lot of unnecessary fuss and bother. Thus their sergeant didn’t feel the need to bark orders at them when they had already heard Captain Hawkins’ instructions.
The two officers swung themselves up into their saddles and rode toward the building that housed both departmental and post headquarters. After arriving, they tied off their horses at the hitching posts, and walked up the steps to the military department’s side of the frame edifice. Ludlow carried the saddlebags with the stolen money. It was a short way down to the door they were looking for:
Major Edward Whitaker
Adjutant General
&nb
sp; Military Department of the Indian Territory
The captain and lieutenant presented themselves at the desk of a sergeant in the outer office. “Captain Hawkins and Lieutenant Dooley are here to report to the adjutant general,” Hawkins announced.
The sergeant went to the door behind him, rapped on it and stepped into the office. He returned a moment later. “Major Whitaker will see you, sir.”
The pair walked in and came to halt, assuming the position of attention. Hawkins saluted. “Sir, Captain Hawkins and Lieutenant Dooley of the Kiowa-Comanche Scout Detachment reporting in from assignment.”
The major, a portly fellow with a wrinkled brow, returned the salute. “We’ve been waiting for you, Captain. You’re to go immediately to Major Heidelberg’s office.”
Hawkins was confused. “The judge advocate general?”
“You heard what I said, Captain.”
The curt dismissal prompted another exchange of salutes and about-faces by Hawkins and Ludlow before they marched out of the office. They went down the hall, checking doors until they found the one they were looking for.
Major Peter Heidelberg
Judge Advocate General
Military Department of the Indian Territory
After dealing with yet another staff noncommissioned officer, Hawkins and Ludlow repeated the ritual of assuming the position of attention. Hawkins saluted. “Sir, Captain Hawkins and Lieutenant Dooley of the Kiowa-Apache Scout Detachment reporting in from assignment.”
Major Heidelberg returned the salute. “You’re under arrest, Captain.”
“Sir?” Hawkins said.
“You are charged with the willing disobedience of a direct order from a senior officer, disrespect toward a senior officer, absent without leave and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.” He paused, then added, “These accusations were filed by Major Harold Dewey of the paymaster department.”
Ludlow blurted out, “We captured the bandits who robbed the train, sir.” He held out the saddlebags. “All the money was recovered. Every dollar is here. We had gun battles with the criminals and have brought the three survivors back here. Bill Stucker, Elmer Wright and Dick Eastman are now lodged in the post guard house.”
Crossed Arrows (A Long-Knives Western Book 1) Page 20